Ways to Promote Your Dropshipping Business within Your Community

The dropshipping method continues to be one that many people use to streamline their business processes and generate revenue. Now, it's one thing to use the internet to generate buzz about your company. However, the internet isn't the only place. You can use offline methods to promote your business within your local community. Whether you're based in Cape Cod or Los Angeles, you can always take advantage of local resources to promote your business. Consider the following ways you can promote your dropshipping business within your community.

Adopt a local sports team

There are many sports leagues that look for businesses that are willing to provide sponsorships in exchange for advertising. If you make a major donation to the league, there are so many ways you can negotiate advertising. Negotiate a deal that allows your company logo to be a part of the team jerseys. If your company name is included somewhere in the facility (scoreboard, gym floor, etc.), that's another way to gain some primetime visibility. Reach out to the little league organizers in your area. Find out if they have room for any sponsorships. Develop a relationship with the organizers so that you can find out more information for the next open slot. Don't make the assumption that people aren't paying attention to those details. In many cases, the best marketing is subliminal. As long as you find great ways to gain visibility with a sports team, you'll be able to gain a consistent flow of traffic to your business website.

Use business cards

Always walk with business cards. Whether you're going to a networking event or enjoying a night out with friends, keep business cards nearby. You'll be able to easily share the contact information for the business. It's pretty easy to order business cards online. After you receive the cards in the mail, start to leave them in various places around town. If you go to the doctor's office, ask for permission to leave a few business cards in a visible area. The same concept applies to the local library and local restaurants. Make sure that the business cards are eye-catching and contain the updated information.

Attend local events

Always remain cognizant of what's happening within your community. If you don't know what's going on, it's impossible for you to show up. If you don't show up, the people in the community won't even know you exist. This is why it's a good idea to stay on top of what's happening through a few channels. First, maintain a subscription for the local newspaper. Join the online newsletter connected to the newspaper as well. Visit the local library on a bi-weekly basis. Take a look at the bulletin boards to see what events, classes and fairs are coming up. When you go to the grocery store, keep an eye out for flyers regarding local events. Once you find out about what's happening in the area, see if it's possible to rent a booth or financially support the event in exchange for advertising. It's a great way to get some networking done. Plus, you'll get a chance to become more familiar with the community you'd like to serve.

Purchase air time

Even though print newspapers and magazines might seem like a dying breed, the radio isn't. Don't believe the hype. Tons of people still listen to the radio. With this understanding, it's best to purchase some air time for your business. Find an incredible musician who can prepare an amazingly catchy jingle for your business. If you don't know anyone who creates awesome jingles, you can always tap into freelance websites to find freelance musicians and artists who can create jingles. When your jingle and commercial are ready, you'll want to find the radio station with lots of listeners. The more listeners a station has, the more likely you'll have to pay more in fees. However, when all of the components come together, air time can provide a great return on investment.

Use flyers and direct mailers

Even though you're running a business with the use of the dropshipping method, you still want to have some physical flyers to share. These flyers will redirect people to your website. You can use flyers and direct mailers to get the word out. Direct mailers are pretty straight-forward. When it comes to flyers, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the idea of sticking flyers in the handles of hundreds of storm doors in the community. Instead of wearing yourself out, hire college students who are willing to go door-to-door to hang the flyers on doorknobs. You can pay them an hourly fee to cover a few neighborhoods each week. Make sure to maintain safety precautions for your employees. This is a great way to get inexpensive labor and get the job done in a timely fashion. Make sure the flyers are eye-catching and interesting so that they can be as effective as possible.

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